The Northern Territory Health Department is warning Top End residents to be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of measles.

The alert comes after a young child in Darwin became the second person in a week to test positive for the highly infectious disease.

Symptoms include fever, coughing and a blotchy rash.

Dr Steven Skov from the Centre for Disease Control says people with the symptoms should take precautions.

"If they want to go see their doctor, it would be a good idea, to ring up the doctor's office or emergency department beforehand to let them know they are coming in and that they think they might have measles," he said.

"In that instance they can be put in a separate waiting room before they see the doctor, so they don't risk spreading it to other people in the waiting room."

Dr Skov says it is likely the two reported cases are linked.

"Maybe they were at the same shopping centre as a person from interstate was, or something like that, because it is really so infectious that it is quite easy to catch, even in that sort of way," he said.

The Health Department says people should stay away from work and school if they show signs of measles symptoms.

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